CHICO — Listeners want varied things from music. Often we want to dance, set a mood, hear a story or tap into some rarely-touched sorrow.

Willy Porter's music manages to do so many of these things, while bringing the audience into his walk through the world.

Some of his songs are soft love poems, others observances from a dusty street corner. Some are songs about life's obstacles, regrets, or a glimpse of a mother and child riding a bus.

For folks who want to hear some excellent guitar-playing, he does that, too.

After Porter played at the Women's Center about this time last year one comment was that Porter had "loved on the audience."

While many musicians seem like they're having fun on stage, Porter shows a genuine desire to take us along for the ride.

He'll be in Chico Sunday, to play at the Chico Women's Club at 7:30 p.m., 592 E. Third St. Tickets $18 at Diamond W, 181 E. Second St., and $21 at the door.

Porter described his music as a mix of "blues, folk and rock 'n roll."

The songwriter chatted briefly with the Enterprise-Record while on the way to Moab, Utah. Several times the phone connection began to crackle and cut off as he crossed the desert, but he managed to reconnect while continuing on his way.

"I feel fortunate that I get to do what I love to do," Porter said. "I have a great deal of gratitude," when people "in the room seem to be genuinely interested," in the music.

"I'm lucky. My wife is a school teacher, and during the summer I'm mostly at home with my family."

He plays maybe 80-90 shows during the fall and spring, and has the rest of the time to write and spend time with his family.

When asked about the humanity expressed in so many of his songs, Porter said he's often "drawing from the ideal."

"Some of it is trying to be aware that there is a really great unfolding story that we're all participating in," he said.

"I'm amazed at the little things that people do for each other every day — someone simply holding a door for somebody else, somebody picking up papers that fell.

"Its easy to become jaded and believe that human beings are not altruistic or that there is something inherently wrong with us. And the evidence is the contrary."

Porter has a strong presence on stage that makes you want to look him in the eye, and maybe even high-five the person sitting next to you.

"I think that it comes down to your intention."

"I think people feel that. They have an acute seventh sense that tells them when something is valid and when something is not.

"For me, all I can do is manage the intention. I don't get to control it."

Mostly, it's just Porter and his guitars on tour, although he has recordings with other musicians including his recent CD "Cheeseburgers and Gasoline," with singer songwriter Carmen Nickerson.

Nickerson is touring with Porter in California, including his upcoming show in Chico.